Phasing-Out Fossil Fuel Subsidies Must Be One of the Major Outcomes of Rio+20

What if I told you that governments around the world were spending almost $1 trillion dollars a year to subsidize activities that are driving global warming? What if I told you that the leaders of the major countries had committed to phase-out these fossil fuel subsidies in 2009 but they hadn’t really done much to follow through on that commitment? What if I told you that countries had a chance to send a clear signal right now that it is time to finally phase-out these destructive subsidies?` World leaders have a chance at Rio+20 to stop subsidizing fossil fuels to the tune of nearly $1 trillion and make an important dent in reducing global warming. And now you have a chance to tell these world leaders that it is time to end fossil fuel subsidies. Join with NRDC, 350.org, Avaaz.org, and other leading groups in telling world leaders that it is time to #endfossilfuelsubsidies.

Here is why this is so critical and why important progress can be made at Rio+20.

Countries must change course in Rio. Right now countries are meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to set the agenda for international action on several critical issues. And next week over 110 world leaders will arrive to (hopefully) make firm commitments on specific actions they’ll take to address global warming, spur more clean energy, and reduce deforestation. Wouldn’t it be nice if one of those commitments was to finally get out of the business of subsidizing our planetary destruction?

But some countries are standing in the way. Unfortunately some countries are blocking progress on this issue at Rio. Not surprisingly Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC are doing everything in their power to block efforts to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies. After all, they really don’t want the world addressing global warming and moving off the destructive use of fossil fuels. And other countries are joining into the mix to stop progress. Some are even proposing that we need to eliminate the important subsidies that are being provided to build a clean energy future, such as through wind and solar.

Luckily a few countries like the U.S., New Zealand, Switzerland, Costa Rica, and the E.U. are standing up. But will they stand strong and will President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil make sure that this issue doesn’t get dropped from the final Rio outcome document? Countries are meeting in the next couple of days to decide the fate of the commitment to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies at Rio. Rio must deliver on this issue.

We need your help to send a clear signal that it is time to end fossil fuel subsidies. Join NRDC, 350.org, Avaaz.org, and many others in telling world leaders that it is time to end fossil fuel subsidies. Tweet or post on Facebook: #endfossilfuelsubsidies. Go to endfossilfuelsubsides.org to learn more about this issue and how you can add your voice to the citizens demanding action at the G20 and Rio on fossil fuel subsidies.